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An Anambra High Court sitting in Awka has granted an interim injunction preventing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from arresting the Archbishop of the Province of the Niger and Bishop of the Diocese of Awka, Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Alexander Ibezim.
The injunction was issued following an ex-parte motion filed by the Archbishop’s lawyer, Mr. B.E. Nwofor, SAN, to restrain the EFCC and its agents from taking any action pending further court proceedings.
Read Also: Enugu Govt Counters Sujimoto CEO Over EFCC Fraud Petition
Justice F.I. Aniukwu granted the order after considering the motion under the Fundamental Human Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules and Section 46(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as well as the court’s inherent jurisdiction.
The court specified that the interim injunction will remain in effect until the parties have fully exchanged processes in relation to Motion on Notice No: A/1307M/2025 and the matter is heard or scheduled for hearing. Unless renewed, the order will lapse 21 days from 9th September 2025.
In other news, The Enugu State Government has leveled a ₦5.76 billion fraud allegation against Olasijibomi Ogundele, chief executive of Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited, accusing him of abandoning a flagship contract to build 22 Smart Green Schools across the state.
The controversy deepened after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) declared Ogundele wanted over alleged money laundering and diversion of funds. In a video statement released online, the developer — visibly shaken and in tears — rejected the accusations, saying he had committed no crime and was “ready to clear [his] name.” He insisted the dispute arose directly from his deal with the Enugu State Government.
On Friday, Commissioner for Information and Communication, Malachy Agbo, outlined the government’s case. He said the contract, awarded on July 2, 2024, carried a total value of ₦11.45 billion. According to him, the state advanced ₦5.76 billion — half of the contract sum — to accelerate the rollout across all project sites.
Instead of delivering, Agbo alleged, the contractor resorted to substandard work. “Rather than play to the rules of the contract to deliver quality projects for furnishing and equipping ahead of September 2025 school resumption, Mr. Ogundele resorted to shoddy jobs and the use of inexperienced workers and quack engineers,” he said, adding that none of the structures inspected met the required integrity standards.
